ROYAL TRAVELS NEWS.

Union minister for Railways, Suresh Prabhu, on Tuesday stressed that the Indian Railways will work together with the Goa government to boost the state's tourism industry, even as he stressed that Konkan Railway and the Indian Railways will work in tandem to provide better amenities to the travelling public. 

While the larger objective of the railways' endeavours would be to strengthen India's economy, Prabhu said that the bottom line would be "to ensure that the railways become profitable". 

Speaking after flagging of the inaugural run of the Margao-Ratnagiri passenger train at Margao, Prabhu assured that the Indian Railways will provide the backbone to Goa's trade and commerce with a view to ensuring that Goa remains an important commercial hub. We will do whatever is necessary to boost tourism in Goa. Services of the IRCTC can be used to bring more tourists from abroad to Goa," Prabhu said, adding that he would meet Goa chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Wednesday and discuss "how Goa government and the Indian Railways can work together to offer better services for Goa.